Thursday, July 16, 2009

This is Not a Joke

The Contractor shall conduct two, 3-hour, Humor in the Workplace programs that will discuss the power of humor in the workplace, the close relationship between humor and stress, and why humor is one of the most important ways that we communicate in business and office life. Participants shall experience demonstrations of cartoons being created on the spot. The contractor shall have the ability to create cartoons on the spot about BPD jobs [BPD = Bureau of Public Debt]. The presenter shall refrain from using any foul language during the presentation. This is a business environment and we need the presenter to address a business audience.

Upon completion of the course, participants shall be able to:

• Understand the importance and power of humor in the workplace in a responsible manner• How to use talents in a creative way that adds humor to everyday experiences• Alleviate stress in home and the office• Know how and why humor is important to communication• Improve work-place relationships• Prevent burn-out

Wow. A three-hour session spent discussing humor and communication and relationships in the workplace, and experiencing cartoons? That's pretty much what I do on a long coffee break, minus the cartoons.

And they'll pay someone to conduct such a session at Treasury? At least half the people in my office could handle those job tasks with ease, except for the part about "the presenter shall refrain from using any foul language during the presentation," which would rule out some of the funniest guys I work with.

Treasury could save itself some contracting trouble and just let its employees browse The Covert Comic for three hours. He has lots of workplace humor, and he's already on the public payroll. If he can just draw cartoons, he'd be in.

About Me

In the words of Dr. Evil, "the details of my life are quite inconsequential." However, I will say that I work in a small branch office of the foreign affairs department of the Washington DC area's largest employer.

In Lieu of Photo

"The Bureaucrat" sketch by Sergei Eisenstein

Plus ça change ...

"It is a notorious fact that this city, being at the seat of government, is liable to be visited by more than its proportion of insane persons." - Washington DC newspaper The Intelligencer, April 21, 1835

My Pledge To You

“He or she reacts promptly and responsibly to even the most uncouth respondent or absurd situation with equanimity, humor and meticulousness” – Foreign Service Journal (November 2009)

Disclaimer

The views and opinion I express are my own and do not in any way reflect those of the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or officials. All the information and materials I present, or link to, are in the public sphere and are fair game for public comment.